AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

• Those MetLife Stadium ghosts must’ve gotten to quarterback Sam Darnold again. He looked flustered whether he was facing pressure or not, completing just 16 of his 25 throws for 111 yards, no touchdowns and a horrendous pick.
• That lackluster performance led to, obviously, a complete dud from the offense. The Panthers finished, not only with three measly points and 173 total yards, but also having converted on only two of their 15 third-down tries.
• And that led to the Carolina defense, for the third straight week, having to absorb too many body shots. The offense’s inability to move, or even hold, the rock gave way to the Giants chalking up a 20-0 second-half advantage on the scoreboard.

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

It was over when Sam Darnold stepped on the field.

(Kidding. Kinda.)

It was definitely over when stepped off it of though.

Darnold, with the Panthers down 15-3, was benched in favor of P.J. Walker at the 12:41 mark of the fourth quarter. Whether that hook was a desperate attempt to spark the offense or just a white flag, that 12-point deficit felt like a 1,200-point deficit.

Giants kicker Graham Gano, ironically enough, pushed the game out of distance with a 44-yard field goal with just under six minutes remaining. That was followed up by a 19-yard touchdown run by New York running back Devontae Booker a minute later to make it 25-3.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

• DT Derrick Brown: six tackles (two for a loss), 1.0 sack
• DE Brian Burns: four tackles, 1.0 sack
• S Jeremy Chinn: eight tackles (one for a loss)

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

The last-place 3-4 Panthers will try to jump out of the NFC South cellar next week when they travel to Atlanta to take on the 3-3 Falcons.